1947 Hobbs of Barbican Clubweight Build and many other old builds

I have a couple of lentons with Dunlop special lightweight 26" x 1 1/4" rims and both came to me with Woods valves.

I have a couple of lentons with Dunlop special lightweight 26" x 1 1/4" rims and both came to me with Woods valves.

But I think you can put more air pressure in inner tubes with presta than with woods.

Inner tubes, rim tape, new brake blocks and seat post clamp all just arrived in the post. No more excuses. I have the afternoon free. Let's finally get this built!

^ Look forward to seeing how you get on

Would also like to hear peoples first hand accounts of applying the great beetle secretion that is shellac. Did you mix it up yourself with flakes or buy it premade? How many coats did you use?
Cheers
Pete

I bought 55g of the palest shellac flakes I could find on ebay and mixed a 17lb cut. This means you dissolve (by ratio)17lb of shellac into 1 gallon of Meths.
In more practical terms this equates to 1g into 0.5ml
I think I was a bit heavy handed with the meths, so it was probably more like 30-35ml into the 55g batch.
I then used a paint brush to apply it
As I said before I was in a bit of a rush, and put on about 6 coats in one night, but I think you'd be better off applying one coat at a time, and leaving it overnight, maybe doing another coat the next morning and then recoat in the evening. 4 coats should do the trick, you can always ride the bike between coats to see whether you've got enough on.

By the way, the tape I had under mine was from the same batch of SABA, also supplied by Dave Marsh

ready yet? :)

Adam with the grey Hobbs, also seen this in Woolwich - great to see it ridden and not hidden!!

It must be ready, by now...

thanks Garth, i will look out for you in Woolwich what are you riding.
Is it ready yet 7VEN?

Nope :)
Did as much as I could then dropped it in to the LBS to sort the cables/cable lubricator and a few other things as I didn't want to fuck it up.
Sometimes, the feeling of paying and collecting something completed, when you have limited time, can be so much sweeter than struggling and rushing doing something for the first time*
All 3 mechanics dropped what they were doing to come and have a look and must have been in there for a good 30 mins having a chat.
Will collect it on Friday when I have a free moment, and, if it's dry, will get some photos!
Considering now adding some HOB transfers to the downtube.......

*Normally give anything a go but cabling has eluded me so far.

^ Look forward to seeing how you get on

I bought 55g of the palest shellac flakes I could find on ebay and mixed a 17lb cut. This means you dissolve (by ratio)17lb of shellac into 1 gallon of Meths.
In more practical terms this equates to 1g into 0.5ml
I think I was a bit heavy handed with the meths, so it was probably more like 30-35ml into the 55g batch.
I then used a paint brush to apply it
As I said before I was in a bit of a rush, and put on about 6 coats in one night, but I think you'd be better off applying one coat at a time, and leaving it overnight, maybe doing another coat the next morning and then recoat in the evening. 4 coats should do the trick, you can always ride the bike between coats to see whether you've got enough on.

By the way, the tape I had under mine was from the same batch of SABA, also supplied by Dave Marsh

Thanks Rik,
Will make sure it dries between coats!

Thanks Rik,
Will make sure it dries between coats!

I have used shellac for furniture work, and it dries really quickly, at least in the Australian climate.
As long as it has dried enough not to be fully dissolved by the subsequent coat it is good.
I have done some handlebars. By the time I finished with one coat I could start the next.
I would suggest going with a few coats, then you can always top it up later as you need to or to refresh the finish.

Interesting- you may well be correct on the drying time..
My reason for being wary about putting too many coats on before it hardens is because mine subsided slightly - that said the layer looks to be quite a bit thicker than the ones in your photo... maybe I put too much on...?
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/72712370/2012-11-29%2009.08.18.jpg

That's the colour I'm after Rik. Not too yellow or not too brown.
A colour to compliment the amberwalls. A light honey brown-ish colour.
I'm pretty much after the same as yours.
That said, I've spent a fair bit of time this afternoon looking at which colour flakes to buy and I'm a little stumped.
Do you remember which brand you bought?
Seems to me that Liberon is a popular brand. Which colour though?!? It's oing my head in!
Thanks once again ol-master-of-the-shellac :)

hurry up!

A light honey brown-ish colour.
I'm pretty much after the same as yours.
That said, I've spent a fair bit of time this afternoon looking at which colour flakes to buy and I'm a little stumped.

then go for the Blond colour, apply a few thin coats. Let dry. Check colour. If you want more colour then buy some of the Lemon or Orange, and mix into the Blond, and apply some more thin coats.
If you do this with the bars installed make sure you cover the wheels and the rest of the bike as the mixed shellac is watery in consistency.
You can always buy some cheap white cotton handlebar tape and trial on a set of bars. When happy with colour and thickness replicate on the project.

Thanks Big Block.
Have ordered small quantities of a few different colours.
Off to pick it up now.
Excitement levels are high!

Sneak peek until I can get some decent photos!
I think it looks the mutts and rides extremely well too!

Nice location

Here are a few more. None that great unfortunately.
Popped in to visit the vague site of where the Hobbs of Barbican shop was at 34 Barbican (bombed during the war) then popped in to see Her Majesty on the way home.
Really really pleased with how this has turned out. Rides beautifully for a 65 year old bike and it's pretty quick too!

Yeah!!!

That is great, well done.

Down side is your oiler probably will not work, too much gap between the cable outer and the ferrule. Should have a nice tight fitting ferrule to stop oil leak. Looks great though.

looks great! top job.

can i ask about the GB cable clip thing(not sure of the correct name). How did you track that down? after something like it myself.

looks great! top job.

can i ask about the GB cable clip thing(not sure of the correct name). How did you track that down? after something like it myself.

Thanks!
They come up on ebay all the time. Just search for gb cable oiler or cable lubricator.

#edit# there's one on the bay at the moment but it has no ferrules which you'll need.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-GB-BRAKE-CABLE-LUBRICATOR-NO-FERRULS-/171162552346?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item27da15481a

That is great, well done.

Down side is your oiler probably will not work, too much gap between the cable outer and the ferrule. Should have a nice tight fitting ferrule to stop oil leak. Looks great though.

I know, I know, scandalous! Well spotted!
Errr, might have to just use it for show!

What you could do is release the inner cable at the brake pull out the cable outer from the ferrule and put a small amount of silicone sealer on the outer then reassemble.

#edit# there's one on the bay at the moment but it has no ferrules which you'll need.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-GB...item27da15481a

Bugger I will not be getting that for cheap now then ;0)